ARESENE CHABANIAN (1984-1949

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Arsene Chabanian (1864-1949) French-Armenian Diaspora​The real tutor of Arsene Chabanian was the nature, especially seashore regions, where he created numerous studies and paintings, which are exhibited in different galleries. (Macler F. La France et l’Armunie a travers l’histoire, Paris, 1917).He became a professional painter, acquiring good knowledge of art and developing at the same time his individual orientation. He equally worked in diverse genres: landscape, genre scenes, still-life and portrait. Being still a student, Chabanian was also interested in graphics and created a number of impressing works in the genre of eau-forte. After his years at the Julien Academy, as R. Chichmanian noticed: ‘’Chabanian hasn’t adopted any of these masters’ orientations, he hasn’t chosen to follow their way, but, having improved and enriched his brush technique, he returned to living nature, to the world of sea, which he had learned to love deeply In the East’’. (R. Chichmanian, Landscape and Armenian Painters, Yerevan, 1958, in Armenian).Still living in Paris and having as tutors Jean-Paul Laurens and Benjamen Constant, ‘’Every year Mr. Chabanian spent several months in Bretagne, at the ocean shore, getting there his ispiration and ideas for his future paintings. Storms, sea calmness, low and high tide, whirlwind, flying birds – his brush shows us all these natural events, which have inspired him, in their perfect reality’’.(Auguste Bernard, ‘’Mshak’’, Tiflis, N 125, 1902, in Armenian).Chabanian stayed in all Frech provinces for some time: seachore Bretagne, Vendйe, South of France, everywhere studying the magic mystery of the sea and painting numerous seascapes, each better of the other.1894 – First exhibition at the Salon of French artists. ‘’During his trip to Bretagne Chabanian created numerous seascapes which he sent to the Salon of French artists. They immediately created a furor and all the press was inundated by words of praise about the ‘’painter of sea and light’’, as Chabanian already showed in these paintings his firm viewpoint to which he remained faithful until the last days of his life’’.(Onnig Avedissian, Peintres et sculpteurs armйniens, Le Caire, 1959).He went to trips, visiting Italy, Belgium, Holland and England, The painter was impressed by the natural God-made beauty of fields and mountains, rivers and seas. ‘’Chabanian didn’t like the atmosphere of atelier. The open air, nature and especially the sea had a magic attraction for him…These paintings immediately created a great interest and the French press began to speak about the ‘’painter of light and sea’’.(Reverend Archimandrite Aristakes Pohjalean, Essay on Armenian Painting, Vienna, 1959).1898 – We read in the paper ‘’L’Armenie’’ (N 12) that ‘’Arsene Chabanian, an Armenian painter from Karin, exhibited some of his famous paintings at the Gallery Georges Petit. The crowd of art amateurs of different of nations, who came to visit the exhibition, was charmed and congratulated the master from Karin for this great success. Chabanian presented sixty paintings. From these works ‘’The Shore of Pan-Chateau’’, The Night on the Ocean’’, ‘’Evening-glow’’, ‘’The Beginning of the Storm’’ and some moonscapes are especially to be mentioned’’.(Editorial, ‘’Handes Amsorya’’, Vienna, N 12, 1899, in Armenian)